Reed Elsevier

Reed Elsevier is a major specialist publisher for professional users in four target areas of science & medical, legal, education and business publications and services.

In February 2005, Reed Elsevier reported revenues for 2004 of almost Â£5bn. "In 2004, we published more than 15,000 different journals, books and reference works, as well as more than 500 online information services and organised more than 430 trade exhibitions," it states on its website.

Reed Elsevier's Role as an Arms Fair Organiser
In September 2005 The Lancet, a leading medical journal, requested that Reed Elsevier, the journal's parent company, divest itself of business interests that "threaten human health." 

The magazine's editor made the request after becoming aware Spearhead Exhibitions, a Reed Elsevier subsidiary, organised the Defence Systems and Equipment international (DSEi) arms fair between September 13-16 2005 in London. At the 2003 DSEi exhibition some of the arms merchants displaying their wares sold cluster bombs. While the company promotes its   corporate social responsibility credentials, Reed Elsevier Group spokesman, Stephen J. Cowden, was unmoved by The Lancet's appeal. Citing its role as a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, Cowden wrote that "it is our view that the defence industry is necessary for upholding national security for the preservation of democratic values." He did not address the specific concern about cluster bombs.

Political contributions
Reed Elsevier gave $64,000 to federal candidates in the U.S. 2006 election through its political action committee - 28% to Democrats and 72% to Republicans.

Lobbying
The company spent $1,660,000 for lobbying in the U.S. in the first half of 2007. Some lobbying firms used were Venable, Podesta Group, Jefferson Consulting Group, and Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering.

Chairman and Executive Directors

 * Jan Hommen, Chairman
 * Patrick Tierney
 * Gerard van de Aast
 * Sir Crispin Davis
 * Mark Armour
 * Erik Engstrom
 * Andrew Prozes

Non-executive Directors

 * Lord Sharman of Redlynch
 * Rolf Stomberg
 * Cees van Lede
 * Strauss Zelnick
 * Dien de Boer-Kruyt
 * Mark Elliott
 * David Reid

Contact details
Reed Elsevier Group Offices:

1-3 Strand London WC2N 5JR UK Tel: +44 (0) 20 7930 7077 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7166 5799 Web: http://www.reed-elsevier.com/

Radarweg 29 1043 NX Amsterdam The Netherlands Tel: +31 20 485 2222 Fax: +31 (0)20 618 0325

125 Park Avenue 23rd Floor New York NY 10017 USA Tel: +1 212 309 5498 Fax: +1 212 309 5480

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Arms control
 * Campaign Against the Arms Trade
 * Corporate Social Responsibility
 * Global Compact
 * Political influence of arms companies
 * U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
 * Sheila Forbes